Package and wrapping



LQQBAS? March 5, 1935., W R51-EL PACKAGE AND WRAPPING Filed March '7 1954 Patented Mar. 5, 1935 eATfENT ori-lcs 1,993,487 PACKAGE AND WRAPPING, Willis Joseph Ritzel, Pasaaenacauf. Application March 7, 1934, Serial No. 714,519 4 claims. (c1. 20s-4e) This invention relates to packages and/ or special wrapping means for sticks of chewing gum and like relatively thin, long, narrow tablet or sheet form articles, and is of the same general type, and has the same general objects and advantages as, my invention forming the subject matter of LettersPatent No. 1,861,285, granted May 31,Y 1932.

- In the above mentioned patent the outer wrapper was formed in two sections and the inner wrapper was similarly formed, the two sets of sections being arranged in overlapping interleaved relation, the two inner wrapper sections being secured to their respective outer wrapper sections as by adhesive, the two outer wrapper sections being connected together by a gummed tear strip or tongue, and the two inner sections being folded back together in triangular shape after being lapped about the tablet to hold them frictionally against relative endwise displacement. This made a very eiiicient wrapping serving to accomplish the objects in view, but involved an excessive number of assembly operations in associating the various sections of the wrapper and two avoidable operations in applying the same to a gum stick or tablet.

The present invention has been developed with the above mentioned considerations in mind and has for its primary object to provide a simplified wrapping and package, which will seal the contained gum or other article to protect it from the atmosphere, kof which the usual inner and outer wrappings may be simultaneously partially Vstripped from the individual gum unit so that the latter may be easily gripped between the lips or teeth and the stripping operation thereafter completed, and in which the assembling and applying or wrapping operations will be appreciably reduced in number, thus greatly reducing the cost of production and application.

While the field of use primarily in view is in connection with long, narrow, thintablets, sticks or sheets of chewing gum such as now extensively sold in this country, the invention is not limited to use with chewing gum, but may be used in con- ,nection with any articles in connection with which it may find application and to this end may be made of such size and proportions as may be most suitable.

In this application I show and describe only the preferred embodiment of my invention simply by way of illustration of the practice thereof, as by law required. However, I am aware that my invention is capable of different embodiments additional. thereto and that the various details thereof maybe modified in a number of ways, all without departing from my said invention. Therefore, the drawing and description v.herein are to be considered merely as illustrative and not as exclusive.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a perspective View of a commercial package unit embodying my invention;

Figure 2, a central longitudinal section through one of said units on a greatly enlarged scale, gripped preliminary to initial partial stripping;

Figure 3, a view similar to Figure 2, showing the upper halves of the inner and outer wrappings totally disconnected from their respective lower portions and being removed from the upper end portion of the gum;

Figure 4, a view similar to Fig. 3, after the upper halves or portions of the inner and outer wrappings have been discarded and the gum itself has been gripped by the teeth or lips, the grip on the lower portions of said wrappings being relaxed so 'as' to simply hold the same while the gum is being pulled therefrom; and

Figure 5, aperspe'ctive superposed View of the gum 1 and the composite wrapper in open position.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the commercial package as sold over the counter may consist of simply a single unit as illustrated in Figure 1 or may comprise a plurality of individual units, say five or six, held together by a common outer wrapper or binder (not shown) such as is well known in the art and has long been in commercial use.

Each individual unit consists of a stick of gum or other contained article l, an inner wrapper and pable of endwise movement with` relation to each other. Y

The outer wrapper is preferably formed of one integral piece of paper transversely perforated on a line extending from side to side as at 4 medially of its length to form two end portions 2 detachably connected together by the unsevered portions intervening between the cut portions so as to be easily detached from each other by theexertion of a slight pulling effort lengthwise of the outer wrapper.

The inner wrapper is preferably formed of one integral piece of paper with a transversely extending line of perforations medially of its length to form to end portions 3 detachably connected together by the unsevered portions intervening between the cut portions to function in the same Way.

In assembling, adhesive a is applied to the upper face of a small area of each of the portions 2 of the outer wrapper or of the lower face of the inner wrapper, and said wrappers are then pasted together with their lines of perforations 4 and 5 respectively spaced apart from each other an appreciable distance lengthwise of said wrappers, preferably about one fourth of an inch or more. However, the real point here is that they shall not be in registry with each other and v it suflices if they are so related to each other that the unperforated portion of the one wrapper is opposed to the perforations in the other wrapper. In other words, it is preferred, and an advantage of the embodiment illustrated, that the actual holes or perforations in the one wrapper shall not coincide or register with the actual holes or perforations in the other wrapper, though this arrangement is not essential, considering the invention in its broader aspects.

With the two wrappers associated as immediately above mentioned, the gum 1 or other article will be disposed on the central portion of the inner wrapper which Will then have its side portions folded over the gum so as to overlap each other as usual. Next, the outer end portions of the portions 3 of the inner wrapper will be folded to lie flat against the adjacent outer faces of said portions 3 and so as to be overlapped by the respective portions 2 of the outer wrapper. Next, the side portions of the outer wrapper will be drawn tightly about the inner wrapper and the enclosed gum and then secured together in overlapping relation by any suitable means, such for instance as a suitable adhesive or wax.

The outer wrapper will have the distant ends of the portions 2 formed with suitable, preferably integral, grip or pull tabs 6.

In use, when the consumer desires to strip the gum, he takes one of the units, grasps one end thereof between the thumb and forefinger of one hand and presses thereon so as to grip the gum 1 through the intervening lower end portions 2 and 3 of the outer and inner wrappers (without penetrating the wrapper or wrappings) while seizing the upper pull tab 6 between his teeth or lips, and then exerting a pull endwise of the unit, such pull resulting in tearing the upper portions 2 and 3 Afrom the lower portions 2 and 3 along their weakened zone of connection, for instance the perforated lines 4 and 5 respectively, and continued endwise relative movement between the hand and lips resulting in entirely removing the upper portions 2 and 3 of the outer and inner wrappings respectively from the upper end portion of the gum. Such upper portions 2 and 3 are then discarded and the user grips the exposed end portion of the gum 1 between his teeth or lips and, as so held, strips therefrom the remaining lower portions 2 and 3 of the outer and inner wrappings and discards them, drawing the gum 1 as thus stripped into his mouth by the use of his teeth and lips and without need to touch it with his hands.

While it is preferred that each of the wrappings shall be formed from a single integral piece of paper divided off into two end portions, such as 2, 2 or 3, 3, by a transverse line of perforations such as 4 or 5, this is merely the preferred way of accomplishing the desired object, which, broadly stated, is to provide a wrapping having two end portions connected together by an intervening weakened zone or tear line or portion or line of weakness that will permit the two portions to tear apart or be detached from each other on being subjected to a small degree of tension or pull. This same function and relationship may be accomplished by forming each wrapping with a transversely extending thin weak line or zone, without actuallyperforating the paper or other material of which the wrapping is formed, or the wrapping might be cut from stock formed by two lengths of suitable material having their adjacent edges suitably yieldably connected together either continuously or at spaced intervals, the line of such connection corresponding to the transverse line of perforations or transverse line or zone of Weakness 4 or 5 as the case may be.

In case the perforated lines 4 and 5 are employed to secure the 'detachable connection between the portions 2, 2 and 3, 3 of the outer and inner wrappers respectively, it is preferred to form the same by relatively long cut portions separated from each other by relatively narrow uncut neck portions so as to ensure that a slight pull will suflice to tear the respective portions 2, 2 and 3, 3 apart.

Also, it is to be understood that it is not essential that the pull tabs 6 shall not be connected to, or formed with, the portions 3, 3 of the inner wrapping and not directly connected to or formed with the portions 2, 2 of the outer wrapping, nor is it essential that such pull tabs 6, or one of them, or any of them, shall be provided at all. However, they are found to be convenient and it is preferred to provide both of them, one at each end of the outer wrapping.

A further advantage in having the lines of perforations, or zones of weakness or lines of separation 3 and 5 out of registry in a direction lengthwise of the wrapping lies in the fact that the outer wrapping will overlie the line 5 of theinner wrapping so that although the outer wrappingk might be detached or torn at or in this line or zone 3 it will still cover and protect the inner zone or line 5 which lies at a different point lengthwise of the wrapping, thus greatly minimizing the possibilities of both the inner and outer wrappings being torn unintentionally or breaking or tearing apart possibly due to the bending of the gum strip or tablet or other article, thereby insuring the maintenance of the proper sealing of the package under practically all conditions until the wrapping is intentionally stripped off.

However, while it is preferred and advantageous to stagger the respective lines of separation or perforations 5 and 3 of the inner and outer wrappers respectively for reasons including those above mentioned'and while this relationship has been shown in the drawing illustrative of the present preferred embodiment, the invention considered in its broader aspects is not limited to such staggered relationship, but on the contrary contemplates the combination of an inner wrapper and an outer wrapper functionally secured together in the manner described, each wrapper having a line of perforations, or a line of separation, or a zone of weakness generally corresponding to the illustrated lines of perforations 5 and 3 respectively of the inner and the outer Wrappers whether such lines of perforations, or Zones of weakness or lines of separation be staggered as illustrated or whether they be in registry or coincidence, or whether such lines or zones extend perpendicular to the axis of the package as illustrated, or diagonal thereto to assist or facilitate the start of the stripping or separating function in exposing the enclosed article for extraction, or Whether said lines or zones be otherwise disposed or irregularly formed in order to facilitate such stripping or separating action or function or to attain or aid in some additional object or function.

I claim:

1. A wrapping for a tablet of long, narrow, thin contour, said wrapping comprising an inner wrapping and an outer wrapping, each said wrapping being perforated substantially from side to side along a transverse line medially of its ends, said line of perforations dividing each said wrapping into endwise detachable portions, in combination with means securing the detachable portions of one wrapping to the corresponding portions of the other Wrapping with the said lines of perforations out of registry with each other.

2. A wrapping for a tablet of'long narrow thin contour, said wrapping comprising an inner wrapper and an outer wrapper each having a transversely extending weakened portion thus providing a portion endwise detachable along said weakened portion, in combination with means securing the .detachable portion of one wrapper to the detachable portion of the other Wrapper, said weakened portions being so located between the ends of said Wrappers that when said detachable portions are removed a substantial portion of the wrapped tablet will be exposed, and being of such extent that by an endwise pull the detachable portions will be entirely separated from the remaining portions and completely removed from said tablet.

3. A Wrapping for a tablet of long narrow thin contour, said wrapping comprising an inner wrapper and an outer wrapper each having a transversely extending weakened portion thus providing a portion endwise detachable along said weakened portion, said weakened portions being yout of registry with each other, in combination with means securing the detachable portion of the one wrapper to the corresponding detachable portion of the other wrapper, said weakened portions being so located between the ends of said wrappers thatwhen said detachable portions are removed a substantial portion of the wrapped tablet will be exposed, and being of such extent that by an endwise pull the detachable portions Will be entirely separated from the remaining portions and completely removed from said tablet.

4. A Wrapping for a tablet, said wrapping comprising an inner wrapper and an outer wrapper each having a line of perforations extending substantially from side to side of the respective wrappers thus providing a portion endwise detachable along said line of perforations, in combination with means securing the detachable portion of the one wrapper to the corresponding detachable portion of the other wrapper, said lines of perforations being so located between the ends of said wrappers that when said detachable portions are removed a substantial portion of the wrapped tablet will be exposed, and being of such extent that by an endwise pull the detachable portions will be entirely separated from the remaining portions and completely removed from said tablet.

WILLIS JOSEPH RITZEL. 

